Cabinet forms panel to address shortcomings in govt contracts
Ministers express great relief for Amir’s well being
KUWAIT CITY, Sept 16, (KUNA): The Cabinet Monday formed a committee tasked with addressing shortcomings occurring in government contracts as well as remarks by auditing authorities, a senior official said. The committee, chaired by Minister of State for Economic Affairs Maryam Al-Aqeel and consists of experts, will table proposals aimed at speeding up process of signing contracts which will contribute to rapid implementation of projects, Deputy Premier and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Acting Ministers of Interior and Finance, Anas Al-Saleh said in a statement.
He said His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, who chaired the Cabinet meeting, instructed a quicker implementation of development projects through swift procedures that would make sure deadlines were met.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and acting Defense Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah briefed the Cabinet about his recent visit to Saudi Arabia where he delivered a letter from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to King Salman bin Abdulaziz over a host of issues.
Meeting
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled also briefed the executives about outcome of yesterday’s urgent meeting of Foreign Ministers of OIC member countries, who categorically rejected Israeli announcement of annexing the Jordan Valley, north of the Dead Sea and settlements in the occupied West Bank. The foreign ministers, said Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, considered the Israeli announcement a blatant violation of international law, UN Charter and UN resolutions.
They called on the UN Security Council, international courts and global organizations to confront this illegitimate colonial policy.
The Cabinet, turning to domestic affairs, approved a nuclear energy agreement with the European Union, and an agreement with Iraq on avoiding dual taxation and preventing tax evasion on income capital.
The government commended the Ministry of Health for taking legal action against people in Kuwait Health Office in Frankfurt, Germany, who were accused of mismanagement.
The government assigned the Ministry of Public Works to update the Cabinet in two weeks about the construction of Kuwait International Airport’s Terminal Two (T2) and relocation of Abdullah Al-Mubarak Airbase.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet expressed great relief for the full recovery of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah following a recent health setback.
The Cabinet prayed to Allah the Almighty to bestow his blessings upon His Highness the Amir to return to his normal activity after conducting successful medical examinations in a US Hospital, a government statement said.
The Cabinet, in its weekly meeting, strongly condemned Saturday’s terrorist attacks on two Saudi Aramco facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais.
In a statement following the meeting, the Cabinet voiced Kuwait’s solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and condemnation of any attack on its territories.
It reiterated Kuwait’s support to all Saudi measures to protect the Kingdom’s security and stability.
Moreover, the Kuwaiti government emphasized seriousness of this development and its implications at various levels.
It urged the international community to take all necessary measures to counter such repeated criminal acts that threaten security and stability of the whole region and safety of its countries.
In the meantime, the Cabinet extended its sincere condolences to the United Arab Emirates over the martyrdom of several military personnel in a collision of military vehicles. It prayed to Allah to bestow his mercy on the UAE martyrs.
It also denounced the recent terrorist bombing in southeast Turkey that killed and injured a number of people, offering condolences to the friendly Turkish people. It voiced support to the Turkish government’s measures to maintain its security and stability.
The Cabinet expressed deep regret over the recent floods in Spain which left many casualties and caused huge damage to public facilities and properties.
It extended sincere condolences to Indonesian President Joko Widodo and to the Indonesian people over the death of former president Bacharuddin Habibie, praying to Allah for his soul rest in peace.